portsmouth

[ericflint]

This weekend we met the Volunteer HArbour patrol who where ensuring that everyone stayed in the small boat channel. this close quarter stuff nearly caused on boat to ram us , ut no other problems.
What is the remit of the new service etc.?
Any comments on the new introduction?

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[Talbot]

They also rescued at least one boat with engine failure!

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[Solitaire]

As a member of the QHM VHP can I suggest you look at Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun

 

[rickp]

I don't envy you guys - having seen the attitude of a dinghy on Saturday afternoon that crossed in front of the Pride of Bilbao even though QHM hadn't given permission to cross. (And not 5 minutes before the same dinghy had crossed the other way, without radioing - even though they had a radio onboard).

I think you'll have your work cutout for you - good luck! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Rick

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[zefender]

Re: Remit??

According to the website.."The VHP was set up not only to enhance safety in the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth by educating and assisting leisure mariners navigating within the port but also to encourage all sectors of the local maritime community to work together and share ownership of safety" I confess I'm not entirely sure I know what that means. I look forward to being "educated"

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[dieselhead]

saw the launch in the news "reduce the number of accidents"...... what accidents?

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[Moose]

Oi, I thought you had to know IRPCS to join your little club/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[Solitaire]

Had a few cases of that on my "watch" on Saturday afternoon. In general though people were pretty good. Main issue was use of of small boat channel and the requirement to keep Ballast Buoy to port when entering and exiting the Harbour. I was on only the second watch so don't yet know what happened on the two watches yesterday. Other issues were people "sneeking" in on the Eastern side of the Harbour trying to short cut into Camber Dock. Only licensed vessels are permitted to use that entrance and are mailny commercial fisherman. A few cases of yachts not using engine while in Harbour as well.

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[Solitaire]

We do dear boy! Have to sit a written exam as well!! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[tome]

Re: Remit??

I find it all most odd, to be honest.

I've been sailing in and out of Pompey for donkeys years in boats up to 100 ft and have rarely encountered any problems at all. In my experience nearly everyone is aware of the rules.

To have a bunch of amateur educators shepherding boats in and out seems like the pinacle of pointlessness to me. I do hope the volunteers stay clear of me unless I take leave of my senses- I'm not really seeking a lot of education or attention on the whole.

Sorry if this sounds grumpy, but I'm lost to understand the need.

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[castaway]

As a regular user and mooring holder in Portsmouth I'm quite glad to have a watchman on duty at the harbour mouth. Given the amount of traffic it amazes me that there are so few incidents, but boat users appear to take the place far more seriously than say Chi or Langston where abuse of the speed limits is continuous.

Just one point about the Ballast buoy, I have been leaving it to port on exit and to stbd on arrival!! and other users appear to ignor it altogether. My pilot book has no info regarding it but I was aware that it was to be rounded presumably to keep the smal craft well away from the Wight ferries turning into their berth..

Pls just clarify ... its to be left to port both on arrival and departure?

Many thanks and keep up the good work.. Nick

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[plombier]

Nick, if you have a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qhmportsmouth.com/index.php?subject=note&art=49&seld=1>http://www.qhmportsmouth.com/index.php?subject=note&art=49&seld=1</A> there is a graphic at the bottom of the LNTM that illustrates the required action at Ballast Bouy. Hope this helps.

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[CaptainCava]

Re: Remit??

I agree, in my experience too, I rarely see anyone breaking "the rules".
So what is all this old tosh about reducing accidents and "educating" people?
25 years ago when we had a Navy and all those frigates were rushing off to war, it might have been a problem.......but now?
Who are these pathetic people who decide to be very important and waste our money enforcing "rules" that are rarely broken anyway...........
Ah, I know.......they must be related to the people that work in County Councils & Town Halls who spend their lives (and a lot of our money) making roads as untenable as possible for cars.
Sorry to be so reactionary, but for God's sake........WHY?

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[Twister_Ken]

Seconded. nm

`

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[DepSol]

Re: Remit??

Well yes maybe you have been sailing in and out of Pompey for years but not everyone is as learnered as you are or has sailed in such big and wonderful vessels in and out of this port and "rarely" coming across any problems. It is also comforting to know that you think everyone knows the rules and you would probably be in agreement that they could pass this amateurish test for the ameteur educators even when owning on a boat for a very short time, it must be obviously that simple.

Maybe your aren seeking attention or education but maybe things change and are you aware of the changes as they happen, maybe, maybe not.

Sorry if this sounds sarcastic, but I'm lost to understand why people who are protecting others safety always have to be questioned for their actions and belittled by people who if they know how it should be done should be grateful that there are people to educate the ones that dont!.

ITS A BUSY AND DANGEROUS PORT!



<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[zefender]

"....it amazes me that there are so few incidents". Given then that there are so few incidents, why bother with the VHP? I can't help feeling this is a bit like getting Special Constables, but on the water. Get a group of organisations, including the local authorities, to make a grant of £100K for a couple of boats and some fuel and off you go. How long I wonder before they position themselves next to Ballast, taking down the names of boats and reporting those who who fail to be 'educated'?

I can't help thinking that 5,000 leaflets popped aboard the boats in Portsmouth, reminding them of the need to keep close to Ballast and (shock horror) have the engine running, would be rather more effective and considerably cheaper than buzzing about the harbour tut-tutting at those who disregard the rules.

I frequently disregard the starboard/port Ballast buoy regs. If the Gosport ferry is about to cross, I'll adjust my course accordingly. If boats are pouring out of Campers, I'll adjust my course. If there're are so many boats going at different speeds through the narrow passageway, I'll adjust my course.

I'll now probably need to adjust my course to avoid all these aqua-educaters.



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[plombier]

Re: Remit??

IMHO in view of the comments in the first line of your post I can only assume that you either don't use Portsmouth Harbour very often or you are not up-to-date with "the rules" that you don't see people breaking particulaly with reference to the Small Boat Channel and crossing the Harbour entrance.

The Volunteer Harbour Patrol was initiated by Commander Tom Herman, Queen's Harbour Master and is funded entirely by contributions from local businesses, ferry companies and others so none of "your money" in being used.

Perhaps you should address your "reactionary" comments to QHM who, I'm sure , will be pleased to enlighten you as to the need for the VHP.

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[tome]

Re: Remit??

I wasn't seeking to brag about big and wonderful vessels, merely pointing out that even in a large unwieldy vessel I've encountered few problems. Ok, the occasional daft skipper who tacks into the entrance under sail, or cuts across a ferry - but it's rare.

<<maybe things change and are you aware of the changes as they happen, maybe, maybe not.>> I get emailed (and read) all LNMs automatically. This is a comparatively recent initiative for which I salute Commander Herman and his staff. I have no gripe with QHM or their very professional organisation.

It's bad enough with the MOD police strutting around in RIBs and launches, I don't relish the thought of further interference.

And, unlike you, I don't regard it as a dangerous sport.

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[castaway]

I'm in and out of Portsmouth every week and I would be suprised if I dont see at least one person doing something daft even if its simply straying to far into the main channel.

Portsmouth has a huge amount of heavy commercial traffic, and to my mind they keep a good working relationship with small craft users, even to the extent of the QHM contributing to this forum. If they see that there are safety benifits to running a boat in the harbour entrance, well thats OK by me.

2 weeks back for the first time ever I had a engine failure whilst passing Cowes at night and spent the next few hours anchor in Osbourne bay bleading the fuel system and sorting the source of the problem....At one point I thought I was going to be unable to desnag, it and called QHM to discuss entry under sail etc.

No drama or problems, proceedure and best times discussed... VHP standing by.

Ok I didnt need it but it was the first time Ive even got near having to call for a bit of assistance, and it was nice to know it was there.

All best Nick

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtsite.co.uk/fairweather>http://www.yachtsite.co.uk/fairweather</A>

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[Twister_Ken]

Semantics - bureaucrat speak

will be pleased to enlighten you as to the need for the VHP.

That's typical of an empire builder's modus operandii. They will identify a 'need' for something (usually as being in the public good) when what they really mean is that this is something they 'want' to do, for reasons of their own.

I'm not saying that's the case here, but I leave the thought with you...

BTW - although not a frequent visitor to Pompey I have been in and out a good few times, and have yet to see anything approaching a dangerous incident. What I have seen are enough police, modplod and RN launches around to remonstrate with any transgressors without the need to put another 'official' boat on the water.

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